D-term: Day 1

12/14/11

Before Dress for Success

We will leave at 12:00 am to go to Dress for Success. When at Dress for Success we will help sort clothing. The mission of Dress for Success Austin is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Founded in New York City in 1997, Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization offering services designed to help their clients find jobs and remain employed. Each Dress for Success client receives one suit when she has a job interview and can return for a second suit or separates when she finds work. When an underprivileged person walks into Dress for Success, a stylist attends to her and helps her find appropriate attire for that specific job.

After Dress for Success

At Dress for Success we organized clothing by color and size. We also removed all un-needed tags and hung the clothes on the rack properly. Dress for Success is an organization not only in Austin, but in twelve other countries around the world. The location is in South Austin and is smaller than most of the other locations but still serves a large number of women. In an interview that we were fortunate enough to have with the manager of the franchise, the reporters learned that this specific location serves fifteen hundred women a year! When at Dress for Success we volunteered through sorting the clothing, specifically the blouses that had been donated. These blouses would go toward the clothing program that supplies the professional clothing. We began with stopping in a small parking area and unloading from a big, yellow bus. Then upon walking inside we saw a quaint area which began with a round table surrounded with black leather chairs. We walked inside to see many racks of blouses in assorted colors and sizes. Many of the blouses had tags with price tags on them; this is because many of the clothes were brand new and had been donated in a brand new state. Once we all were in, we met the ladies that worked there and immediately got started, as there was a lot of work to be done. We got into groups and each took a different rack of clothing to organize. We had to make sure that the sizes were correctly placed and organized by color, and to ensure that the tags were correctly punched in and facing out.

The reporters, as said before, got the opportunity to interview a woman that was retired and has been working at the organization for the past six years. She was very informative, and we could tell she was passionate about what she did! She surprised us with many pieces of information about the franchise and about the entire organization as a whole. She was very knowledgeable and helped us grasp the idea of what people’s lives could be like in poverty. One question that we asked was about the programs that are offered. We asked if the business programs were as popluar as the clothing programs. She replied that the clothing programs are always going to be the foundation of the business, and they hope to expand the business end of the organization. The Austin location is hoping to reconfigure the office space to make the business programs easier to access and be more oriented towards them. Another question that we asked was how the volunteers affect the organization. She replied, "Without the volunteers we wouldn’t be able to be who we are today!” We could tell by her response, and her enthusiasm, that the organization was well supported with volunteers, which led us to our next question “What do the volunteers do? Sort blouses like we are today? Or something different?” She replied that “the volunteers do anything that is needed around here, and the volunteers, mainly women but also men, did almost anything. She said, “Sometimes the women from the community would be image consultants, simply give advice, do office work, sort the clothing, give donations, or even help at the career center by helping the many programs function."

The reporters' experience was amazing. We began day one trying to figure out how to work the very confusing IPads and how we would have the ability to type this for our wonderful webmasters! On day one we left for Dress for Success, to sort blouses, and the next day we went to El Bien Sumaritano (the good samaritan). Through the experience we were able to learn so much about the Austin community and the struggles that many women and family's face. The women in Austin, fifteen hundred women in fact, have been helped by Dress for Success due to their referrals, one even by the mayor! This was awe inspiring to think that someone who might struggle day to day can have a little bit of help, to just support their family and play the most important role of a family member and leader.

More About Dress for Success

Beginning in 1997, Dress for Success has become an international organization, but there is also a location here in Austin. Dress for Success is well known for their suiting program. This program begins when a woman is referred to the organization; this is mainly done by other organizations that have relationships with Dress for Success. Then women must schedule a job interview, and once this happens they are given a suit.  These suits mainly come from donations to the organization at their local locations. Also accessories are donated, and if available are also given with the first suit. Other articles of clothing that are offered are blouses, pants, skirts, cardigans, cosmetics, and undergarments -- all of which make a good first impression and a professional look to their clients during the first job interview.  This helps with the first impression in the interview. If they get the job women are able to return to Dress for Success to help have things to mix and match with their suit with.  This is how they can continue to look professional, and have a week’s worth of clothing that they can continue to wear in the work setting. When someone came up with the idea that women not only need the clothing, but an education, Dress for Success started a Career Center. Here, women can learn about what they are interested in career wise, and also they have the option of getting mentored by other women in their community. This can increase the woman's confidence, and she can feel more comfortable transitioning into the working world.

To find out more about Dress for Success and how you can help click on the link: http://www.dressforsuccess.org/

Here is a link to a video of Sachi talking about Dress for Success: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbcKvlyfI2A

D-term: Day 2

12/15/11

Before El Buen Samaritano

We will leave at 12:00 am to go to El Buen Samaritano. When at El Buen Samaritano we will be wrapping Christmass presents for young children and teenagers living in poverty.El Buen Samaritano's vision is to provide a hand up, not a hand-out, to create pathways for clients from subsistence to success through the use of education to eliminate poverty, a comprehensive health care approach and wellness outreach to all members of the family. Their mission is to transform lives by engaging the strengths of working-poor Hispanic families to promote their successful participation in society. Since 1987, El Buen Samaritano Episcopal Mission has fulfilled a unique role in Austin as a provider of integrated health care, English-as-Second-Language education, job-readiness skills, social services, health education, leadership training, children programs and emergency food assistance for working-poor Hispanic families.

After El Buen Samaritano

Then the next day we went to El Bien Sumaritano where we had the pleasure of making the holidays a little bit brighter for six hundred children and their families. We helped with setting up different booths for all the kids and for them to remember for the rest of the year. Overall, Dterm has been eye opening in the way that we have learned more about the people that we encounter everyday. As the clothing group, we learned how to as a group work together to impact others’ lives.

To find out more about El Buen Samaritano and how you can help click on the link: http://www.elbuen.org/

Other Organizations

Lisa' Hope Chest
One non-profit organization in based in Austin, is Lisa’s Hope Chest. Founded in 1996, Lisa’s Hope Chest has many programs. “Clothes Closet,” the main program, has been providing suitable professional clothing without cost to help those who are living in poverty. This organization provides both clothing for men and women. The main focus for this organization is helping those who are trying to get a job make a good first impression during an interview. Lisa’s Hope Chest also helps people also keep their jobs by letting these people have a wardrobe with clothing for work.  “Image Consulting” is another program at Lisa’s Hope Chest. This includes helping choose appropriate work clothes, nail care, makeup, hair styles, and hygiene. This image consulting is meant to help with job interviews, but also boost the confidence of the women that they help. Other programs offered at Lisa’s Hope Chest are personal health, financial management, nutrition, family management, legal rights, coping with crisis, and employment. All of these different programs falls under the Life Skills Training Program.

To find out more about Lisa’s Hope Chest and how you can help click on the link: http://www.lisashopechest.org/

The Junior League of Austin

The Junior League of Austin is a non-profit organization that is focused on making the Austin community a better place, mainly for women and children, and was founded in 1934. This organization is a group of women working to help the Austin community. They collect about one million dollars a year, and this money is used to run their programs year round. One of their programs is known as Coats for Kids, which is mainly heard about in the colder seasons of the year. This organization joins forces with Jack Brown Cleaners, KASE 101, and KVUE to help collect donations. Coats for Kids is an annual project where the community donates new or gently used jackets and heavy coats. These coats are donated to the children of Central Texas and in the Austin area. These children either are homeless or live in poverty, and these coats help keep them warm. Most heavy coats can be expensive, and these children’s families might be unable to purchase new coats. This leaves them with coats that aren’t thick enough or too small in size. Coats for Kids collects coats for boys and girls, but ages usually range from teenagers to small children. Another main program within the organization is called Playhouse Singers. This group is focused on entertaining those living in nursing homes and currently in hospitals. It is currently a very unique program, because this is solely meant to entertain and bring joy to those living in restricted conditions. Another program is known as FIT(food in tummies!) which is focused on elementary school children in providing them healthy food and teaching them nutrition. Also, the organization participates in fundraising to help Austin’s natural disasters-- for example, the Bastrop Relief Fund.

To find out more about The Junior League of Austin and how you can help click on the link: http://www.jlaustin.org/


Issues


One issue for someone who is living in poverty is social status. Clothes, for centuries, have represented social status. When people are living in poverty their clothing can often depict their social or financial status. For instance clothing that is worn down, too small, not appropriate for the weather, dirty, etc. all displays this person’s lack of wealth and place in society. Though we shouldn't, we often judge people by their appearence. This situation is more a problem with those who are homeless than people living in poverty, but both can apply. When someone is walking by and  if they are dressed a certain way one may not want to associate themselves with them. People, in general, as human nature want others that they can connect with, and this isolation can lead to emotional issues. This isolation is a form of extreme loneliness that is common with those who are homeless. One emotional issue that is common due to this isolation is depression. Without treatment, depression can lead to self-destructive thoughts. Many with access to health care and medical care are able to get medications that reduce the depression symptoms, but if you are homeless it would be extremely difficult to obtain these medications.This is due to the lack of ability to obtain these resources legally or with doctor’s consent. They might also be unable to receive the transportation needed to reach the clinics they need. Not being able to have these medications most likely would lead to self-medication and substance abuse.

An issue that affects children and teens more often than adults who are living in poverty is growing out of clothing. Traditionally in a family where there is expendable income, enough to purchase many clothes, people replace their clothes often. This is due to growing taller or changing sizes. The reason why most people replace clothing is so that their clothing fits better and serves its purpose. For a family that is living in poverty, they most likely will not have the expendable income to pay for newer clothing once they grow out of older clothes. By not having clothing that is the right size, these children and teens might not have the protection from the clothing that they have. If the clothing doesn’t fit properly it becomes uncomfortable to wear, which can be distracting and bothersome. This issue of replacing clothes can also affect adults if they gain or lose weight. If adults change weight, and don’t have the expendable income to replace the clothes, the same issues can arise for adults. Another main issue pertaining to children and teens, is the judgement of peers in the school place. When someone has clothing that is either too big or too small they can be teased and looked down upon for not fitting to the norms of the society.

Another issue pertaining to poverty and clothing is protection from the weather. Clothing is a protecting layer, and if people are living in poverty they might be unable to purchase proper clothing for different activities or weather conditions. Clothing protects us from rain, snow, the sun’s rays, and extreme temperatures, just to name a few. Also, clothing helps protect us when we fall down, or scrape against something. Without the expendable income to purchase new clothing each season, those living in poverty are not protected from these things. In Austin snow wouldn’t be as common, but once the sun sets on a cooler day it can become extremely cold for those who are homeless. Clothing, due to protection of elements, can keep you from getting sick.  Some sicknesses could be very common in a household where the clothing is inadequate, especially in colder regions. When someone is sick they traditionally go to the doctor, but poorer families don’t always have health insurance. This insurance helps lower the rates of a doctor’s visit, but without this checkups can be very expensive. Once someone is sick they cannot be treated by a doctor. They might have to rely on medication without a prescription, or no medication depending if the family has the extra money to spend. Once sick, this family’s children would be missing school. This portrays the cycle of poverty which can go on in a common family’s life. From this you can learn from one small issue many more can arise.

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Emma, Sachi, Jordan, Rita, Trevor, Breandon, Vanessa, Kiarra, Jessica, Elise, Saba, & Maya